Rock Climbing

Yesterday, Davin (my fiance) and I took an Intro to Rock Climbing class. We went to Seattle Vertical World in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle.

I signed up because it was a new challenge to try and I also thought it would be an interesting thing to do along with the yoga training. As I've said, I want to explore different forms of movement.

The class was 3 hours long and most of that time was devoted to the safety protocols of climbing (how to get into the harness, tie ropes and properly belay). I was nervous at first, I thought the height would scare me. As the class went on I realized that I was more scared of belaying. Having Davin's life in my hands was slightly terrifying. But we practiced a lot before we even climbed and then did short stints climbing up a few feet while the instructors watched us.

And so my confidence grew. Davin and I ended up staying an hour after our class to practice. I was tired and hungry, but the challenge was too tempting. I manged to even get to the top of the wall, after slowing down my climb and learning to carefully calculate my moves, I was finally having fun. But I realized it didn't matter about how high I climbed, it was about how I approached the wall. Not rushing my moves, setting up properly and feeling good - those were what I would count a the biggest take-aways. I was a beginner and every movement is new to me. That was when I realized I was practicing yoga as I was climbing. When I was rushing to get to the top, I was ignoring the whole point. Slowing down, enjoying where I was (clinging to a wall 30ft up in the air) and feeling the freedom of moving my body - that is yoga. I got to use new muscles, which I am definitely feeling today, and reveal a hidden strength.

Rock climbing also demands that you check yourself and your partner before getting on the wall. Are your straps double-backed? Harness above your hips? How is your figure-eight follow-through knot, etc...? You wouldn't start an asana class by launching into a large back bend, like Wheel Pose. You would warm up the right muscles to allow the movement. With rock climbing, yours and your partner's life are in your hands. With yoga, injury prevention and ease are in your hands. Both remind us to slow down and not rush the practice. Because that is exactly what it is - a practice.